71,146 are people who have been recorded in human traffic in Burundi according to the Survey of “Global Slavery Index” since 2008 to 2013. The government, public or private institutions and people are called upon to deal with this threat that starts taking a large scale.–By Yves Didier Irakoze
Fabien Ntakarutimana: “Most of the victims are told lies by the authors who promise them best and most rewarding jobs, a permanent residence or scholarships in foreign countries,… And this traffic is often operated from poor countries to developed ones.”©Iwacu
“On the occasion of the World Day of Slavery Abolition, celebrated this Monday in Burundi where human beings’ traffic is nowadays becoming more and more common in Burundi,” points out Fabien Ntakarutimana, Chairman of the Association of Burundi Children Rights’ Promotion and Protection “APRODEB”. He points out that this activity represents one of the three most known horrible and criminal activities generating money in the world. This traffic consists of treating individuals as slaves, exploiting them and getting profits. “Most of the victims are told lies by the authors who promise them best and most rewarding jobs, a permanent residence or scholarships in foreign countries,… And this traffic is often operated from poor countries to developed ones,” states Ntakarutimana. However, regrets Ntakarutimana, those victims who have got wrong promises are often sold for sexual slavery or abused for pornography and prostitution after crossing the border. According to Ntakarutimana, the victims are aged between 3years and over. They are of both sexes and this traffic is operational all over the country.
We should eradicate this scourge effectively
According to Ntakarutimana, all institutions, the government as well as people have to stand up and fight against this frightening threat. “Parents especially those who are in the countryside have to be careful of their children not to become victims of that human traffic, as we know that this latter is nowadays spreading at a high level,” he states. He also calls upon all Burundians, Heads of religious confessions, media, civil society as well as associations in charge of protecting children in the country to break the silence by sensitizing people to the negative impact of that traffic and to denounce the authors. “The government should tackle this issue appropriately and set up mechanisms and laws to detect and arrest the actors in order to stop completely that disgraceful crime in the society,” concludes Ntakarutimana.
IWACU Open Data
